The Shire of Peppermint Grove council unanimously supported Paul and Zara Holmes a Court’s request to remove a verge tree affecting access to their driveway, subject to a $2,500 bond and planting two replacement peppermint trees, according to PerthNow’s 2 December 2024 follow-up. The reporting describes approval conditions; it does not establish that the tree was removed or the replacements planted.
Why the Holmes a Courts sought removal
Paul and Zara Holmes a Court bought the Peppermint Grove property for a reported $20.1 million in 2024. In its 23 November 2024 report, PerthNow described a large tree on the verge between two driveway accesses. Zara Holmes a Court told the council that the placement made reversing difficult and blocked the view of cars rounding the corner from Bay View Terrace.
“We are very lucky to live here, but I have to say that the tree placement is unusual,” she said. She also said: “I’m quite a reasonable and rational person, but a tree in the middle of the driveway makes it quite tricky to reverse out.”
What the council reportedly approved
PerthNow’s 2 December follow-up reported that councillors supported the request unanimously. The reported conditions were a bond before driveway reconfiguration work and replacement planting elsewhere on the verge.
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| Reported condition or detail | What PerthNow reported |
|---|---|
| Bond | $2,500, required before driveway reconfiguration work |
| Replacement planting | Two peppermint trees elsewhere on the verge |
| Property area | 2,793 square metres |
The follow-up quoted council member Douglas Jackson calling the arrangement a “good outcome,” saying it met the owners’ expectations while retaining verge tree cover. The reporting does not establish whether the work or planting has since been completed.
How the driveway came to be split
PerthNow reported that the driveway had been divided in two as a development-approval condition to preserve a young peppermint tree that was growing at the time. The house was described as an early-1900s building in the Federation arts and crafts style. These details are background reported by the outlet, not independently verified council records.
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Tree retention and practical access
The request came amid a wider local discussion about retaining trees. PerthNow reported that Shire officers recommended against removing the tree and that councillors were due to decide the application on 26 November 2024. The eventual reported decision paired removal permission with replacement planting, balancing the owners’ access and sightline concerns against the Shire’s interest in verge tree cover.
Western Australian Planning Minister John Carey urged the Shire to take a pragmatic approach. “I understand people are passionate about trees. But ultimately, we do need local governments to assess the situation and find pragmatic outcomes,” PerthNow quoted him as saying. He also referred to the State’s work on an urban tree canopy approach. The reports do not establish a specific statewide canopy target or a final policy.
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What this case does—and does not—show
This is an example of a reported local decision involving a particular tree, driveway layout and set of conditions. It does not establish a general rule that councils will approve verge-tree removal whenever a resident cites access or visibility concerns. The available reports do not include the formal council minutes or resolution wording, so the outcome and conditions here are attributed to PerthNow rather than presented as a verified record of the Shire’s formal decision.
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